SMC Monthly concert September 2024
Dear Music Rasikas,
SMC would like to invite you with family and friends to our Monthly concert to be held on Saturday 28th September 2024 at the Dundas Community centre, 21 Sturt street, Telpoea.
4.45 pm to 5.45 pm: Violin concert by Nihitha Kuthsav, accompanied by Sayeesh Srinivasan on Mrudangam and Sushant Vishwanadham on Kanjira
6 pm to 8 pm: Thematic Vocal concert by Dr. Smitha Balu on compositions of Kerala composers with lecture demonstration on the topic, accompanied by Sri. Balaji Jagannadhan on violin and Chi. Harish Ravindran on Mrudangam
Artiste Profiles:
Dr. Smitha Balu
Dr Smitha Balu holds a Doctorate in Indian music from University of Kerala. She completed her Masters and Bachelor's in Carnatic music from The Maharajas College for Women, Trivandrum, Kerala. She was also awarded Junior Fellowship in the area of Carnatic Music in the year 2002 by Department of Culture, Central Government of India. Being a versatile singer who has a real passion towards Carnatic and Light music, she continues to nurture her musical career by performing in different prestigious musical shows in Sydney and staging musical productions based on her own concepts. One of the most prestigious musical production by her is Utsavayaanam, which was a thematic concert based on Utsava Sampradaya Krithis of Swathi Thirunal Maharaja alongwith visual interpretation through Mohiniyattam performed in 2012, which was a rare musical experience for the music lovers in Sydney. Most prominent among her gurus are Prof Dr.K.Omanakkutty, Sri Perumbavur G.Ravindranath, and Late Sri. Mavelikkara Prabhakara Varma. She still continues her music education under her Guru Dr K Omanakkutty.
Sri. Balaji Jagannadhan
Balaji Jagannadhan learnt vocal and instrumental Carnatic music from Bangalore Smt R. Thangammal, herself a disciple of Vidwan Sri R R Keshavamurthy. Balaji hails from the steel city of Jamshedpur, India, and is a frequent performer at Carnatic forums in Sydney and Brisbane. He is a enthusiast of both schools of music Carnatic and Hindustani. He has also contributed to the musical choreography for a few classical dance recitals.
Smt. Nihitha Kuthsav
Vidushi Smt. Nihitha Kutsav is a disciple of “Sangita Kalanadhi” Smt Lalgudi Vijayalakshmi. She has been fortunate to be under her tutelage since she was 13 yr old. She has performed in concerts in Chennai, India and has also trained students in India and the USA. Currently she’s working as a Network Engineer in Sydney . She is passionate about pursuing music and is aspiring to become a successful musician.
Sri. Harish Gopikan Ravindran
Harish initiated the art of mridangam at young age under the tutelage of Dr. Suresh Ramachandra in Auckland. He has been fortunate to pursue extensive training and has become a proud disciple of Vidwan Sri. Thanjavur K. Murugaboopathi of Chennai. He had his Mridangam Arangetram in Sydney in 2017, alongside his sister Vishni on Veena, and was accompanied by eminent vidwans from Chennai. Harish is a regular performer in Sydney for carnatic concerts and bharathanatyam repertoires and has notably accompanied concerts overseas at prestigious sabhas and venues in Chennai, London, San Francisco and Auckland. Harish is also blessed to have accompanied many visiting artistes from Chennai.
Sri. Sayeesh Srinivasan
Sayeesh is a Year-11 student from Sydney Technical High School. Sayeesh has been learning the art of mridangam since the age of nine, under the sterling guidance of Sri. Sivakumar Sethupathi. He has been performing in Sri Thyagaraja Aradhana, Sri Purandara Aradhana and the main Hindu temples around Sydney.
Sayeesh is also a student at Sydney Sanskrit School & School of Vedic Sciences (Aust) Inc and has been awarded Minister's Commendable Excellence in Student Achievement in 2021.
He also holds youth membership in Australian Red Cross, Amnesty International Australia and a trained first-aid responder at St John Ambulance Australia (NSW). Sayeesh frequently participates in all social and other community events being organised by local organisations.